Tom O’Brien

The Disciplinary Panel of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on Thursday 28 April 2016 held an enquiry to establish whether or not Tom O’Brien, the rider of SABROCULAIR (FR), placed fourth, had committed a breach of Rule (D)44.4 of the Rules of Racing in that he had attempted to line up for the start before being instructed to do so in the Otter Brewery 25 Years Handicap Steeple Chase at Exeter on 21 April 2016. The matter was referred to the BHA Head Office by the Exeter Stewards following an enquiry on the same day because this was O’Brien’s fourth offence within the last 12 months.

The Panel found O’Brien in breach of Rule (D)44.4 and imposed a suspension of 4 days effective from Friday 6 May 2016 to Monday 9 May 2016 inclusive.

Written reasons to follow in due course.

Grace Harris

The Disciplinary Panel of the BHA held an enquiry on 28 April 2016 to consider whether or not Grace Harris, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule (C)17 of the Rules of Racing, in respect of her failure to notify the Racing Calendar Office, by noon 5 days before the horse’s next run, that CAPTAIN DEVIOUS had been gelded.

Having considered the evidence, the Panel found Miss Harris in breach of Rule (C)17 and fined her £100.

Richard Fahey

The Disciplinary Panel of the BHA held an enquiry on 28 April 2016 to consider whether or not Richard Fahey, a licensed trainer, had committed a breach of Rule (C)17 of the Rules of Racing, in respect of his failure to notify the Racing Calendar Office, by noon 5 days before the horse’s next run, that CELEBRATION had been gelded.

Having considered the evidence, the Panel found Fahey in breach of Rule (C)17 and fined him £100.

KHAZIUM / Claire Dyson

The Disciplinary Panel of the BHA held an enquiry on 28 April 2016 into a report that KHAZIUM (IRE), trained by Miss Claire Dyson, had been reluctant to start and then refused to race, pulling itself up after the fifth fence in the Betfred Mobile Novices’ Handicap Steeple Chase at Sedgefield on 9 April 2016. The matter was referred to the Authority by the Sedgefield Stewards following their enquiry on the same day, because the gelding’s previous unruly behaviour had been the subject of a hearing by the Disciplinary Panel of the BHA on 4 June 2015 when it had directed that if KHAZIUM (IRE) was unruly on the racecourse again the matter should be referred back to the BHA.

Having considered the evidence, including that the horse would be retired from racing, the Panel declared that with immediate effect under Rule (F)66, no further entries would be accepted for KHAZIUM (IRE) for races run under the Rules of Racing.

Notes to Editors:
1. The Panel for the enquiries was: William Barlow (Chair), Celina Carter, Edward Dorrell